#MACYSPARADE

WHERE TO WATCH

START TIME

The parade begins at 9AM ET. Get your spot along the route.

THE ROUTE

There's 2.5 miles of public viewing! Please note: grandstand tickets are not for sale to the general public.

VISITOR CENTER

See us on the mezzanine level of Macy's Herald Square and get your 10% off Visitor's Savings Pass. Plus, we can arrange your tickets to must-see attractions and help you get the most out of your visit!

Parade Shorts

Parade Videos

BEHIND THE SCENES AT MACY’S PARADE STUDIO

Watch in 360° as one curious kid gets a tour he’ll never forget!

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THELINEUP

BALLOONS

NOVELTY BALLOONS

BALLOONICLES

FLOATS

PERFORMERS

MARCHING BANDS

CLOWNS

PERFORMANCE GROUPS

PARADE OFFICIAL

New!Macy’s ParadeEmoji Keyboard!

They’re cute. They’re funny. They’re ready to text. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade emojis have arrived! Now you can light up your friends’ phones with text alerts of fun balloons & characters that are all about Thanksgiving joy.

Fingers, get ready. Download the emoji keyboard now for iPhone or Android.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I participate in the Parade as a balloon handler, clown or volunteer?

Since it began in 1924, participants have been Macy's employees, their families and friends or others who have a relationship with the Parade's elements and/or partners. This participation policy still exists today. With the exception of invited performing talent (i.e. marching bands, celebrities, singers, etc.), aspiring participants must fall under one of these categories and be approved via application granted by the Macy's Parade Office. Click here for the full Parade Participation Policy.

Participation Policy

The purpose of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade® is to provide quality entertainment while bringing children and families together on this most cherished national holiday. This objective has remained consistent since the first Holiday Parade in 1924.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a privately-sponsored & privately-funded event, is regarded by Macy's as its annual gift to the nation. Parade participants are primarily employees or associates of Macy's or its affiliated companies, their families and friends, or others who have business relationships with the Parade, its broadcast partners and its Parade partners.

In line with the goal and historical traditions of the Parade, Macy's invites entertainers and others to participate based exclusively on their ability to provide appropriate family entertainment suitable to the occasion. These participants consist of a variety of celebrities, who may include athletes, musicians, singers and performers from the worlds of television, film and theater, as well as various talent-based performance organizations, such as high school and college bands, cheerleaders, dancers and choral groups.

While the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade respects and embraces America's diversity, our policy dictates that the Parade will not be used to represent any specific cause or special interest, no matter how worthy. Therefore, without judgment as to the merits, Macy's does not grant requests from any charitable, civic, political or cultural organization seeking to participate in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The company and Macy's Parade organizers reserve the right to make all determinations relating to participation in the Parade on the basis of entertainment value and preserving the long-standing traditions of this unique national holiday event.

Can I buy tickets to the grandstand seating?

Unfortunately, tickets to this limited seating area are not available to the general public and are not for sale. We provide a small amount of seats to friends and family of our Macy's employees, volunteers and partners who are giving up their holiday to put on the Parade. We also provide a select number of seats for charitable organizations (501C3) to auction off at fundraisers. First come, first serve. Limited allotment per year, please contact: paradequestions@macys.com

Is there special access for spectators with special needs?

Where are the best places to see the Parade and what time should I get there?

The best places to view, depends on you! Early risers like to camp out starting at 6am along the west side of the street on Central Park West from 59th to 75th Streets, where the Parade runs from about 9am until 10:30am. If you prefer to arrive later, further down the route on 6th Avenue may be best—the Parade reaches this area around 9:30am. We don't suggest viewing from 6th Avenue between 34th and 38th Streets or in front of Macy's Herald Square, which provides very limited viewing due to the national television broadcast.

Can I buy a copy of the Parade broadcast?

This once-a-year event is best watched live! Unfortunately, no reproductions of the broadcast are available for sale or distribution.

I have an element (float, car, balloon, etc.) that I want to enter into the Parade, how can I do that?

We love and appreciate your enthusiasm, but all elements are designed and created by the artisans at Macy's Parade Studio. We have numerous guidelines that allow us to provide unique entertainment and best serve our performing talent.

I have a band/performance group that is interested in participating in the Parade, how do I apply?

Directors of marching bands may apply for the 2018 Parade, and directors of performance groups with unique entertainment value may apply for the 2017 Parade. Apply here.

I would love to propose or get married at the Parade, can you help arrange this?

Though it would be an honor to share in this special moment, this is not something that we can take part in or approve. At this time, we're devoted to producing the nation's most beloved holiday event and coordinating more than 8,000 participants, dozens of floats, balloons and vehicles, security and other major logistics.

I want to see the balloon inflation the night before the Parade. When and where do I go?

Join us for the Macy's Giant Balloon Inflation from 3pm to 10pm on the day before Thanksgiving. You can enter the special balloon inflation areas surrounding the Museum of Natural History beginning at 79th Street and Columbus Avenue.

Marketing & Press

Extra! Extra!

Kick off the holiday season with Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®. Each year, more than 3.5 million people in NYC and over 50 million people at home watch the Parade, which is why it’s so important that our corporate partners are up for the exciting task of bringing joy to Parade fans everywhere.

press Contact

Orlando Veras

Christine Nealon

press FAQs

How do I get a credential to cover the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade®?

All media must have an NYPD press credential in order to be on the line of the march to cover the Parade. The NYPD press credential allows the accredited individual access to certain areas on the line of the march including portions of the Parade's starting line and route. Access is limited to the route from 38th Street through 75th Street only.

How can I acquire an NYPD press credential to cover the Parade?

The NYPD does not issue event-specific credentials. If you do not have an NYPD press credential, you may still cover the Parade, but only from behind the barricaded audience areas. If you are a member of the foreign press, Macy's may be able to accommodate you at a small platform dedicated for this purpose. Please contact Macy's Media Relations for more information.

What areas of the Parade do not permit media access?

There is absolutely no media access between 34th and 38th Street on 6th Avenue and between 7th Avenue and Broadway on 34th Street.

What are some restrictions when covering the Parade?

We appreciate your adherence to these guidelines that are in place to maintain the integrity and safety of the Parade:

Members of the media are not allowed to stop or otherwise impede the movement of any Parade element.

Members of the media are not allowed to completely surround any Parade element.

Members of the media must follow the Parade from the curbside. Being in close proximity to any moving element may impede its progress or in some rare cases, can become a safety issue, as elements can make unexpected turns or stops.

Where can I get press materials for the Parade?

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade® press materials are generally available on November 1st of every year at macys.com/pressroom. These materials include various press releases, maps and photography.

Where can I find information on how to cover pre-Parade media events?

New!Macy’s ParadeTime Traveler App

Head to Macy’s at Herald Square

It’s like being in another decade! Our app turns your phone into a time portal, giving you a unique view of the parade as it appeared in the ’30s, ’60s and ’80s. Use your mobile device to pan the streets outside of Macy’s flagship store and watch as the camera fills your screen with 3D images of buildings, balloons and more from a different era.

The App Works in Your Local Macy’s Store, too!

Use your phone in your local Macy’s and capture the adorable character balloons that pop up on your screen. Don’t miss one!

The Fun Follows You

You can project your captured balloons around the house, in the park or wherever you go! Indoors, they’re tiny. Outside, they’re huge!

Ready to get started? Download the app now for iPhone or Android.

officialpartners

JOINTHEPARADE

marching bands for 2019

performance groups for 2018

Please note: only directors may apply; applications from third parties will not be accepted.

Bob Hope Band Scholarship Award

Macy’s presents a $10,000 scholarship designed to honor one outstanding marching band member participating in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade that exemplifies Bob Hope—an extraordinary humorist who served his community, was a wonderful leader and provided invaluable service to our country. The recipient’s school band program will also receive $10,000. The award was created to recognize Bob and Dolores Hope’s love of music.

Parade Shop

2000s

A MODERN TAKE

It's a brand new millennium and Macy’s shakes things up accordingly. With new technology, creativity erupts in the parade studio. Balloons emerge in new shapes and flaunt futuristic details: SpongeBob gets his square pants, Buzz Lightyear sports a translucent helmet and Pikachu electrifies with flickering cheeks. Balloons even morph into whimsical hybrids! Tricaloons and balloonicles take center stage.

The experimenting continues in the Blue Sky Gallery. Here, Macy’s works with artists like Jeff Koons to create balloons that give contemporary art a lift. But in the shadow of all this progress lies tragedy: 9/11.

The message of the 2001 parade: we cannot forget but we can dream bigger and bolder in defiance. And so we do.

Stars & Stripes Forever

We will not be defined by tragedy. In 2001, we march on. First responders representing every NY agency lead the parade, hoisting giant flags shaped like the Twin Towers. First responders also pack the Daily News Big Apple float. Daniel Rodriguez, “the singing cop,” performs “God Bless America.” We honor those lost with a moment of silence.

The Science of Art

In an era of game-changing technology, the parade studio goes all in, too. We build a decidedly unround SpongeBob SquarePants (600 internal tension lines shape him squarely), Buzz Lightyear with a translucent helmet and an animated, three-segment Goldieblox float. Just an average day at the office, really.

Schoolof Hard Knocks

A school that rewards students for clowning around in class? That’s Macy’s Clown U. Led by the Big Apple Circus, 900 volunteer clowns are trained to take slapstick and confetti seriously—but enjoy every second of it.

Handling the Pressure

Balloon handlers, captains and pilots are depended upon to make our balloon giants soar on the big day. Enter Balloonfest, where we test fly each new balloon, giving balloon handlers hands-on training and the flight team an opportunity to pilot the new creations.

Macy’s & What Army?

Let’s crunch some annual parade numbers: Approximately 300 marching bands apply. 12 are selected. 60% of balloon handlers are repeat volunteers. 230 dressers and 100 makeup artists prep 4,000 volunteers on site. The conclusion: it takes a whole lot of hard work and dedication to get this show on the road!

Elf

1990s

THE DECADE OF POP

From jeans to flat top hair, everything’s bigger in the ’90s. Coming off of a spate of parade advancements from the ’80s, Macy’s gives the crowds a visual feast with more floats and twice as many inflatables, spiking the balloon count from nine to eighteen.

But what are the ’90s if not a pop culture paradise? Haven’t we all been Saved By The Bell? Aren’t the Clueless always among us? The parade glides right into the belly of the mainstream. Bart Simpson’s balloon makes its gen-Y debut while floats deliver the artists bumping on our CD Discmans: Shania Twain, boy bands, Christina Aguilera and more. The parade has love for them all.

Take Me to the Inflation

While balloons have always been inflated on New York’s Upper West Side the night before the parade, watching it happen becomes a big thing in the ’90s. That’s when the inflation area at 77th street expands to two blocks and makes room for twice as many balloons, boosting the count from nine to eighteen. Kids and adults love to come out and watch.

Animated Heroes

Certain animated stars get their cult-following start in the ’90s and the parade doesn’t hesitate to make them larger than life. Think Bart Simpson, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Sonic the Hedgehog (here’s where you bust out your Sega Genesis!)

Another Invention to Cheer

Falloon: (fuh-loon) a cold-air inflatable balloon and float combo.

The brainchild of balloon and float guru Manfred Bass, falloons are introduced to the world in 1990 with The Wizard of Oz and Paddington Bear. More hybrids fun up the lineup in this decade, too, like Humpty Dumpty, M&Ms characters and the oceanic creation, Sea Venture.

Wiggleworm

1980s

ALL IN THE DETAILS

Oversized belts and huge shoulder pads—in the ’80s, big details are king. Macy’s has a moment with scale too, but of the cool balloon kind. 1980’s Superman creation is nearly 100 feet long and surfs the air as on-lookers watch in awe. It’s the parade’s biggest balloon yet!

And growth? It keeps on coming.

Macy’s ends partnership with Goodyear and balloon production moves in-house. Under the guidance of sculptor-turned-head-parade-designer Manfred Bass, balloons are shaped, chiseled and defined. Floats grow in size and swell in enchantment. A train float whistles down the parade route thanks to a period of ambitious engineering. It’s high-level animation and careful design like this that’s producing a new wave of fantasy for the parade—and greater art.

Thanksfor the Memories, Goodyear

Goodyear’s balloon-making partnership with the parade ends in the early ’80s—after nearly six decades! Balloon design moves in-house to Macy’s parade studio and a fulltime staff takes the reigns. Macy’s 1980 Superman balloon is one of the last produced by Goodyear. At approx. 100-feet-long, it’s the parade’s biggest balloon yet.

Really, Snowstorm?

In 1989, New York is hit with its first Thanksgiving Day snowstorm in 50 years or so, leaving a bunch of balloon handlers stranded. Macy’s improvises and puts a handful of its hundreds of cheerleaders on balloon duty. Cheerleaders always have their team’s back.

And the Emmmy Goes to...

The parade heads to the red carpet in 1980 with its first Daytime Emmy® win for the 1979 NBC broadcast. The show wins its second one in 1982—the year 80 million viewers catch the parade on TV. A record number!

Things Get Better for Orphan Annie

The Annie float debuts in 1981 as one of the largest ever built by Macy’s parade studio! The enormous replica of the orphanage and Warbuck’s mansion carries 17 actors from the original film. It’s so big that designer Manfred Bass rides atop the roof and radios the crew as they guide the float along the route.

1970s

A WHOLE NEW GROOVE

Big, bold and fab—of course it’s the ’70s! Everything’s making noise, and that goes for entertainment, too. Disco from the Bee Gees dominates the Billboard charts. Donna Summer’s out with her new smash, “Last Dance.” Motown hits radio gold with songs from the Jackson 5.

And the parade’s got talent to spare.

Diana Ross, Queen of Motown, is on the lineup. So is motorcycle stuntman Evel Knievel! Even the Kermit the Frog balloon heads to England for a royal event.

But perhaps the biggest star of the parade is behind the scenes. In 1977, Jean McFaddin joins the show as parade director, and her entertainment ideas take the show to a whole new level. At the top of the list: give the show a big dose of Broadway.

Did You Get Your Ticket?

The Parade has built itself up to be one of the biggest entertainment events of the year. Nobody wants to miss the Village People dancing on the Jukebox float or Menudo singing on top of—a bus. Check out the vintage ’70s tickets!

About Menudo...

So here’s what happened. Menudo is originally slated to perform on a float like the other entertainers. BUT TEEN GIRLS. Deciding it would be best to protect the heartthrobs from a mob scene, the parade keeps the group high above the hysterical fans—and has them perform on top of a moving bus. We don’t know how they got up there...

Marching in the Rain

No balloons in 1971’s parade! A torrential downpour grounds the entire cast of inflatables for the first time in parade history. No worries, though. NBC airs clips of balloons from 1970’s parade and the show goes on. Phew.

Macy’s Star

1960s

THE FUTURE STARTS NOW

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy vows America will send a man to the moon by the end of the decade. And that’s what America does! In 1969 Neil Armstrong is the first person to step foot on the moon. But not before unexpected tragedy hits: President Kennedy is assassinated just days before the 1963 parade.

Should the ceremony go dark for a second national crisis? A phone call to Macy’s from the Kennedy family answers the question.

The show must go on.

To look at space is to look towards the future—and a new one is taking shape for the parade. The 1963 lineup begins to cement the parade’s long history with pop culture creations. Plus, there’s the emergence of Manfred Bass, the gifted sculptor and childen’s book illustrator who brings exciting new ideas to float design in the years to come.

Do It For Our Children

All About That Bass

Children’s book illustrator and sculptor Manfred Bass joins the parade team in 1964 and completely modernizes Macy’s floats with creations animated by hydraulics. A dog tail wags, a bird flies—his floats are the future.

More Pop Culture, Please

99 Problems But Space Ain’t One

The celestial coups of the ’60s, in no particular order: Ed White is the first American to walk around in space. President Kennedy commits to sending a man to the moon. Neil Armstrong takes his first steps on the moon. Macy’s sends its 1969 Astronaut Snoopy balloon—straight to the lineup.

Bullwinkle’s Moment

The parade adds new animated star balloons to its roster throughout the ’60s, including Bullwinkle J. Moose from the popular TV series, The Bullwinkle Show. Also on the list: Donald Duck and forest fire mascot Smokey Bear. Check out the balloons + their original sketches!

Happy Dragon

1950s

GOOD TIMES FOR ALL

Welcome to the decade that reaches for the stars!

As more marquee names sign on, the talent lineup grows. The 1953 show is packed with film and television heavyweights—from Howdy Doody to Oscar-winning actress Ginger Rogers. The crowd expands too, with NBC’s broadcast gaining fans and eventually, Technicolor.

Not even storm showers can rain on the parade in the optimistic ’50s! Popeye keeps his head up during his watery debut. Mighty Mouse powers his way down the route in rough weather. And air-filled balloons on cranes solve the parade’s run-in with a national helium shortage. Spirits run so high there’s only one place left to go by the end of the decade:

A Tradition Kicks Off

More Celebrities, Please!

The parade gets its first taste of Broadway in the 1950s with famous faces like Jackie Gleason repping popular shows. Not to be outdone, the silver screen serves up big names, too. Shirley Temple Black was the “Princess” of 1959’s parade, signaling the end of the decade.

End of a Christmas-y Tradition

In celebration of Macy’s 100th Christmas, Santa unveils the Christmas windows at Herald Square for the last time at the end of 1958’s parade. The ceremonious finale got its start with the very first parade in 1924, when festive marionette scenes decorated the store’s windows.

Sailing the High Skies

Deflated (But Not Grounded)

In 1958, the government asks Macy’s to forgo helium amidst a nationwide shortage. Macy’s planners instead find a solution that’s a real breath of fresh air. A whole lot of breaths, actually: plain, old air and cranes keep the show afloat.

1940s

LIGHTS, CAMERAS, ACTION

"Cancelled."

Standing on the steps of City Hall in 1942, Macy’s President Jack Straus makes the announcement. The parade will take a backseat to World War II. And for the first time ever, the parade won’t go on. With New York City’s mayor at his side, Straus deflates the parade’s green dragon balloon and donates the rubber to the U.S. military.

But when the war ends in 1945, so does the parade’s hiatus. Nine new balloons are added and over two million people attend that year. And in 1947, the parade gets a major cameo in the holiday film Miracle on 34th Street. But the sweetest win of all comes in 1948: the parade’s first national televised broadcast on NBC.

From Bigto Whoa

Parade During War Time? Nah.

No parade this year, folks. Macy’s President Jack Straus shuts the pageantry down as America enters WWII. He donates approx. 650 lbs. of balloon rubber to the fight. Cancelled for the first time since its inception, the parade is a no-go from 1942-1944.

Don't Call It a Comeback

November 22, 1945. Months after the war ends, the parade springs back to life like it was never gone: nine new balloons, two million-ish spectators and an NBC camera crew that airs the parade’s first-ever local broadcast. In 1948, the network takes the show nationwide.

1930s

NEW NAME, NEW IDEAS

It’s in the air—an excitement as real as the apples sold on corners for pennies. Parade onlookers hit the one million mark and theater newsreels around the country capture the excitement. The parade proves that it can grow—even in the Great Depression. Maybe it’s because people need a little joy? Success gets Macy’s thinking about possibilities. Balloons were great; now what else can we do?

Everything.

Like release balloons at the parade’s finale—and let the characters float away. Award store gift cards for their return! Shock spectators with new balloons—ones that hiss and laugh and cry. Bring entertainers to Macy’s marquee—like Eddie Cantor. Make a balloon in the likeness of the vaudeville star. And while we’re at it, we can change our name.

So Long Balloon Release.You WereCool.

1929-1932. Balloons are released at the end of the parade with a tag attached offering a $25 Macy’s gift card for their return. And returned they were! With puncture wounds from bounty hunters. Or caught mid-air by daredevil aviators. So that had to end.

The Year Eddie Cantor Blew Up

It’s a one-time-only thing but in 1934 Macy’s takes a stab at designing a balloon in the likeness of a real person: super-famous-at-the-time vaudeville performer Eddie Cantor. That’s the same Eddie Cantor that’s fictionalized, decades later, as a character on the HBO’s Boardwalk Empire.

The Fame Game

Celebrities join the parade at Macy’s marquee starting in 1934 with Eddie Cantor. Other stars make an appearance in this decade, too: actor Harpo Marx, singer Jessica Dragonette and bandleader Benny Goodman. In 1938, WOR Radio begins broadcasting the excitement.

1920s

IN THE BEGINNING

It’s a two-block long procession, the first parade. It's the roaring ’20s and there are no rules. Elephants, camels and donkeys march in jagged rows. Traffic jams. The peculiar walks by: Macy’s employees dressed like gypsies and giants. Jazz bands blow sounds of brass into the crowd—a quarter million bodies packed along the route. Santa’s float is making its way from 145th Street to Macy’s at 34th Street. It’s a media sensation, lauded by the Newark Ledger and the New York Herald Tribune.

It’s a great idea.

In 1924, a group of Macy’s employees asks the company to put on a parade. Their request: to celebrate their newfound freedoms and the coming of Christmas. Many in the group are first-generation immigrants wanting to show pride in the new place their families call home.

Now That’sa Balloon

Animals lose their parade marching rights in 1927. Macy’s gets Tony Sarg to design massive balloons. Inspired by the idea of upside down marionettes, Sarg teams up with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Plant Company to make the Parade’s first set: air-filled characters propped up on sticks! But helium is on the way...

ToySoldier

Inflated with air and carried on sticks, Toy Soldier debuts in 1927 at approx. 60-feet-tall and 30-feet-wide. In 2001, Toy Soldier is recreated as a medium-size balloon with stronger fabric and modern technology.